"In the last couple of weeks, ministers Lapid and Livni strongly attacked the government under my leadership. I will not tolerate an opposition within the government and its policy," Xinhua quoted Netanyahu as saying.

In addition, the prime minister "will call for the dispersal of the Knesset (parliament) as soon as possible in order to go to the people and get a clear mandate to lead Israel," the statement read.

Following a meeting which took place Monday night between Netanyahu and Lapid which sources defined as "harsh", members of Likud party and Yesh Atid party said they would vote in favour of a bill to disperse the Knesset and hold new elections within three months, two years after the previous elections were held.